On Thursday we eagerly moved into Alert Level 2!
Thank you for your patience and understanding during the lockdown period. Our staff have worked hard to try and make the remote working arrangements as painless as possible and to continue to deliver the high standard of service for the people we interact with.
This extended period of remote working has enabled our staff to adapt and grow their skill-set particularly around communication, and many of our staff have become proficient across a number of different digital platforms, increased time management skills and personal responsibility. We have learnt that our team can be highly adaptive and resilient while working under modified arrangements and still being able to deliver for our clients.
This experience will have other positive spin offs as we return to office based work such as some staff exploring ongoing flexible working arrangements, less time spent traveling in cars to and from meetings that can now be undertaken across a digital platform. These small changes will result in a reduction of travel time for both staff and clients, meaning better time efficiencies for the project and the individuals, along with the added environmental benefit. Not to mention it also gave many of our staff the opportunity to slow down their busy lives and spend quality time with their families!
Now that we are in Alert Level 2, the main change for Stratum will be that our staff will move back into the office. This will allow some normality to return in terms of our team interaction and collaboration and to enjoy the more social aspects of our working environment albeit at a safe distance initially.
Stratum will operate as follows:
Office based work including design, plan preparation, reports, consent applications, etc will be carried out in the company offices at Tauranga, Te Puke and Rotorua.
Please contact us via landline, mobile or email as you normally do.
For now we will try to minimise face to face meetings. Where possible we’ll all utilise our new found skills and meet via video conferencing/remote methods.
If you do need to meet in person, that’s no problem - we can still do that, but we’ll just need to do it in a safe way. When making an appointment you will be provided with the necessary details.
Fieldwork including surveying, geotechnical testing and site inspections has been ongoing throughout Alert Level 3 and will continue under our COVID-19 Protocols for Alert level 2.
Health & Safety Protocols are in place for our staff going out to Client sites. These are based on NZ Construction Sector Protocols (CHASNZ) and site specific guidelines developed by NZ Kiwifruit Growers (NZKGI).
These protocols are designed to keep you and our staff safe and include details of how physical distancing, hygiene, cleaning and contact tracing will be implemented.
Advance preparation is essential, so please contact us as early as you can to arrange site inspections or other field work.
We understand as we move down through the alert levels, many of you will be starting to firm up on your future project plans for the remainder of the year. Again, we do encourage you to think about continuing with the “soft elements” of your projects. Please contact us if you need further assistance in this regard.